exuberant, faddish, feckless, fickle, finicky: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from GRE Vocabulary set 167. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. exuberant · adjective/ɪɡˈzuːbərənt/

   full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness

   The exuberant crowd cheered loudly as the team scored the winning goal.

   Synonyms: energetic, lively, vivacious

   Origin: from Latin 'exuberare', meaning 'to be abundant, overflow'.

2. faddish · adjective/ˈfædɪʃ/

   characterized by a temporary and intense enthusiasm for something that is not likely to last

   The designer's faddish clothing line quickly fell out of favor after just one season.

   Synonyms: trendy, fashionable, fleeting

   Origin: The word 'faddish' is derived from 'fad', which dates back to the late 19th century, possibly a variant of 'fad', which means a temporary fashion or trend.

3. feckless · adjective/ˈfɛkləs/

   lacking initiative or strength of character

   The feckless leadership of the committee resulted in a lack of direction and disorganization during the crucial planning phase.

   Synonyms: inept, ineffective, worthless

   Origin: Scottish origin, from 'feck', a variant of 'effect', meaning 'to do or accomplish', with feckless implying a lack of effectiveness

4. fickle · adjective/ˈfɪk.əl/

   changing frequently in affection or loyalty

   His fickle nature made it difficult for anyone to rely on him for long-term commitments.

   Synonyms: capricious, mercurial, changeable

   Origin: Middle English, from Old French 'fichel', diminutive of 'fiche' meaning 'a change, a turning'.

5. finicky · adjective/ˈfɪnɪki/

   excessively particular or demanding in taste or standards

   The finicky customer sent back her meal three times before finally accepting it.

   Synonyms: fussy, particular, fastidious

   Origin: The word 'finicky' likely originated in the mid-19th century in American English, possibly derived from 'finick,' a variant of 'finical,' which means excessively particular. The root may also relate to 'finical' originating from the word 'finnick' in Scots, with potential connections to the term 'finick,' reflecting behavior or attitudes of being overly particular.